EXCLUSIVE...Complainant Speaks Out

BIG SPRING- Allegations of misconduct surface, as the State Board for Education Certification continues to look into Big Spring Superintendent Mike Downes past.

"He was inappropriate, I am not going to be a victim anymore and I am speaking for lots of women other than myself," said Tiffanie Carothers, a former student of Downes, "He did have sexual relationships with some of the girls involved in this complaint."

Carothers was a thirteen year old student, in Michael Downes math class in the 1989-1990 school year, in Lefors, TX. She claims Downes had inappropriate relationships with several young girls, and when the Lefors School Board learned of hundreds of letters between Downes and students. Carothers claims he was asked to resign.

"He's been able to go from school to school, without any repercussions," said Carothers, "Nobody wants revenge, we don't want to hurt the man, we don't want to hurt his family. We just want to make sure other people are safe."

Carothers is now a social worker and foster parent, who is married to an educator.

"I don't think he should be able to teach one more day while TEA is dragging their feet investigating everything, because this has been going on for four months, I want something done now," said Carothers.

When asked why now, Carothers responded the public has a right to know what's in that complaint. She says a former employee found her and other alleged victims, and filed the complaint on their behalf.

"The complaint was not filed simply by one disgruntled former employee, this complaint was filed on behalf of a lot of different people, there are a lot of other complainants inside this case," said Carothers.

Michael Downes, says the allegations are false but that he hasn't seen the complaint. He is slated to meet with the State and hopes to clear his name sometime within the next month.